On the recordDecember 2, 2015
We have seen an uproar over the death of Laquan McDonald, and rightfully so. But, sadly, the injustice for Laquan goes much deeper. Laquan McDonald suffered more tragedy in his short life than anyone should have to bear. As a child, Laquan was abused at home. He was then handed over to the Department of Children and Family Services, where he was sexually molested, not just once but in two different foster homes. At 17 years old, Laquan was shot 16 times by an on-duty police officer. Even after death, the injustice continued. It took 400 days before the officer who shot Laquan faced charges. We should all be ashamed at how our society failed Laquan McDonald. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that Black lives matter, that Laquan McDonald's life matters, and justice matters. We should all be working to ensure that Laquan gets the justice that he has been denied for so long and to end the cycle of poverty, abuse, and injustice that shaped his life. ____________________
